Shadow Slave

Even after living through the horrors of the Southern Campaign and witnessing the chilling resolution of the Battle of the Black Skull, Sunny still paled at the sight of the enormous swarm of Corrupted Beasts. There were too many of them to count, but there had to be tens of thousands of translucent crustaceans advancing toward the island.

Even Nephis seemed taken aback- a rare sight, and not a welcome one. She instinctively outstretched a hand, as if summoning a sword could save them from the plague of Corrupted abominations.

"It's... it's alright."

Her voice was even but lacked confidence.

Sunny forced out a faint smile.

"How exactly is this alright?"

Nephis lingered for a moment.

"These creatures don't seem capable of leaving the water."

Sunny closed his eyes for a moment. Yes, the abominable krill were probably incapable of crawling onto the island and devouring them. However, they were more than capable of devouring the Azure Serpent. And with the old snake gone, nothing would prevent the dark butterfly from landing on the shell of the slain Great Monster.

"That's right. You are going to die."

He flinched and glared at the Sin of Solace, who had appeared out of nowhere and looked at him with dark glee.

The sword wraith laughed, and then whispered:

"Better yet, you are going to watch Nephis die. Isn't it poetic?"

Sunny tried to ignore the vile apparition, but this time, it was much harder than usual. With the words of the Sin of Solace still echoing in his ears, he forced himself to look away and stare at the river.

suddenly shot toward the krill swarm with tremendous speed. The water parted

couldn't see the Great Beast's eyes, but he knew that they were filled with bloodlust and fury. That snake... did not know when to retreat. Or rather, it never wanted to. Its lust for slaughter and destruction seemed much greater than its

admirable, really. What

a perverse virtue. The Azure Serpent's extreme bloodlust had made it into a much more fearsome existence than it should

of Corrupted abominations? No matter how large its maw was and how sharp its fangs were, the serpent could only crush that many

bite it took, a thousand Corrupted creatures were going to sink their teeth into the Great Beast's flesh. Even though there was a vast gap between the two Ranks, it was not as insurmountable as

possessed unnatural powers, but it only possessed inconceivable physical might. Not all enemies, however, could be destroyed with

And yet, and yet...

couldn't help but root for

on, old snake... do

azure leviathan was closing in on the rushing krill swarm, moments away from clashing with it. It seemed like a

yet, it was

the shockwave of a demented, enraged roar. Even distorted by the mass of water, it was still loud

The krill, however...

shockwave spread through the swarm like a battering ram. Sunny's eyes widened when he noticed numerous translucent bodies suddenly convulsing

swarming abominations...

of them, those who had been closer to the Azure Serpent, were paralyzed completely, while those that had been

little further still. He just barely managed to sense the massive shape of

a sudden explosion sent countless tons of water rushing outward in a crushing wave. The sonic boom was even louder than

by the tail of the Azure

were already rushing from all sides, aiming to bite into its massive

and snapped, grinding a hundred krill

like a drop

a drill. Sunny did not see

leviathan, the waters of the Great River were stirred, forming a long whirlpool along the length of its colossal body. That underwater whirlpool was like liquid armor, the current powerful